HHS HealthBeat (August 24, 2009)

Mom, Dad and school

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Kids have to work when school starts. But to help the kid do better, Mom and Dad have to work, also. Research shows that children and teens get better grades when parents also are involved in their school lives.

So if you have a fifth grader, does that mean you have to be smarter than a fifth grader? It does help to know the work – and to check the homework. But William Jeynes of California State University, Long Beach says that’s not the most important thing:

[William Jeynes speaks] "It’s even more helpful for children when parents clearly explain that they expect their children to do well in school. It’s equally important for parents to demonstrate their love and support for their children and to set appropriate boundaries and rules."

Jeynes spoke at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011